“That’s why we’re here – to help. Everything’s going to be okay.” Andy took another few steps, and got to within ten feet of her. He held his hand out – it was shaking – he couldn’t stop it. It was Tania, but something deep inside his brain screamed at him to stop, and back away.

He ignored the little voice in his head, and took another step. “Tania, you’re safe now. It’s me, Andy, Andy Bennet, remember?”

She turned.

Andy sucked in a breath, and then smiled, struck by her shameless beauty. Even though he had seen her naked form in his fantasies ever since he first met her, he could never have imagined such perfection. Her breasts were small, high and firm, her stomach flat and below that her pubic hair glistened like curls of silk in the beam of his flashlight.

He swallowed, feeling slightly aroused even as his heart raced with fear. He turned to Hartogg. “Lower your weapon – get that light out of her eyes.” Andy moved again to stay in front of Hartogg.

The SEAL ignored him, keeping both his light and gun pointed at the woman.

Andy saw that her blue eyes seemed darker than normal, and that she stared unblinkingly at him. Then it clicked why – her pupils were fully dilated, even though Hartogg’s light was aimed directly on them. And she still hadn’t blinked.

“I think she’s drugged.” Andy took off his shirt, and shook it. “Let me put this on you.” The material was dripping with his perspiration, but he was determined to give her some modesty. She’ll thank me for it later, I bet, he thought.

“Don’t.” Hartogg’s voice was loud in the silent room. “Mr Bennet, please move aside, sir. Now.”

“Here.” He held out the shirt, anticipating laying it around her shoulders. His fingers trembled as one part of his brain couldn’t wait to touch her, and the other screamed at him to flee.

“Mr Bennet, something is wrong. I advise you not to move any more.” Hartogg’s voice raised a notch, and he edged in a little closer, the gun up and now pressed hard into his cheek.

Andy moved sideways again staying between the edgy Hartogg and Tania to avoid a reflex trigger pull making a fatal mistake. Tania’s lips parted.

“Help me.” Her lips hadn’t moved to form the words, and once again the sound had a strange bubbling quality. Her mouth didn’t close, but now hung open, even wider.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” Hartogg’s voice was a roar. “That’s not –”

Andy leaned forward. “Yes, Tania?”

A black tendril shot from her open mouth. In the blink of an eye it flew past him, travelling the fifteen feet across the chamber floor to Hartogg and striking him in the chest. Andy’s head whipped from Hartogg to Tania and back again. The SEAL was thrown backward, but not to the ground. Instead, he was suspended in the air, the black pipe having speared him in the chest. His rifle was out of his hands, and Hartogg gripped the thing impaling his body, his face contorted in pain.